Abitanta 2013 NFL Mock Draft

April 24, 2013 · No Comments

By Joe Abitanta

1. Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M – Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs very well might trade down and give Miami the number one pick as well as Brandon Albert, but if they keep the pick and trade Albert, Joeckel is their guy. He is a strong blocker with the size and speed necessary to make it in the NFL. As the draft gets closer, we can only speculate as to what kind of big move the Chiefs might make.

Fisher is arguably as good as Joeckel, but he hasn’t proven that he can block elite pass rushers, seeing as Central Michigan is not nearly as prestigious as Texas A&M. However, he is a powerful blocker with a huge upside. The only debate about this pick is if this is the primary need for the Jaguars, but seeing as though their offense was horrible, it doesn’t hurt to help the backbone of an offense.

3. Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida – Oakland Raiders

Floyd is an elite run stopper, and after losing Richard Seymour, the Raiders need to regain their push on the defensive line. Floyd can do it all, and although it isn’t his athleticism that wows teams, he performs great in games and is a clutch player when you need him.

4. Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker, Oregon – Philadelphia Eagles

Jordan is a physical freak at 6-foot-7, and has worked well with Eagles head coach Chip Kelly during their time at Oregon. Jordan can play defensive end or outside linebacker, making his versatile pass rushing skills something really special. Jordan is sure to make the Eagles very happy.

5. Ezekiel Ansah, Defensive End, BYU – Detroit Lions

Ansah is an elite pass rusher who cuts through opposing offensive lines to get to the quarterback. He shows great speed for his position and can use his unique skill set to help his team. The Lions have always sought out pass rush, making this a smart pick for them.

6. Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama – Cleveland Browns

Milliner is a shut down cornerback who can really turn the game around for whatever team he plays for. Many compare him to Darelle Revis, seeing as Revis can shut down any receiver in the league. Milliner’s ability to make play on the ball makes him one of the best defensive back prospects in this draft.

7. Star Lotulelei, Defensive Tackle, Utah – Arizona Cardinals

Lotulelei is a talented pass rusher who has the potential to be a star in the NFL. He was one of the top prospects in this years draft, but after finding out that he has a minor heart condition, he has fallen in this years rankings. Assuming the Cardinals don’t trade this pick away, Lotulelei is their guy.

8. Ryan Nassib, Quarterback, Syracuse – Buffalo Bills

Nassib worked well at Syracuse alongside Bills head coach Doug Marone. Marone has expressed interest in Nassib and it wouldn’t be difficult for them to work out a powerful offense. Assuming the Bills keep the eighth pick, Nassib is the right move for them.

9. Jarvis Jones, Outside Linebacker, Georgia – New York Jets

The Jets have been looking for that extra push on defense to get them going, and although their offense was terrible this year, their first priority is pass rush. Jones was going to be the first pick, but after having surgery, he fell out of the top five. Jones is still a powerful defensive player who will make the Jets very happy.

10. Lane Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma – Tennessee Titans

Johnson is a great blind side protector who has the potential to end up as good as Joeckel or Fisher. He should be able to help this horrible Titan’s offensive line. The Titans might want to trade back and get Xavier Rhodes, but at their current spot, Johnson is the pick.

Cooper is a strong interior lineman who could be useful to the Chargers who need all the help they can get on offense. They might be having trouble at running back and wide receiver, but it’s always good to have help at the root of an offense, offensive guard.

12. D.J. Fluker, Offensive Tackle, Alabama – Miami Dolphins

Fluker is a powerful offensive lineman with a high upside. He could help the Dolphins significantly, seeing as they lost Jake Long recently. To get this electrifying offense off the ground, offensive line help would be useful. Fluker would be a smart pick for this up and coming Miami team.

13. Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia – New York Jets

Smith is a talented, strong armed quarterback that could turn around this struggling Jets team. He possesses the instincts and mobility necessary to compete in the NFL. He may not be the kind of quarterback a team knows will be a star right off the bat, but there’s no reason that Smith won’t be. He could put the rebuilding Jets on the right track.

14. Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia – Carolina Panthers

This year, the Panthers have brought in Ted Ginn and Domenik Hixon at receiver to help out the aging Steve Smith, but they clearly aren’t the long term answer the Panthers are looking for. Austin is a player who can make big plays, making him very valuable in the NFL. Austin is the right pick for a team that wants to be a force in the future.

15. Barkevious Mingo, Outside Linebacker, LSU – New Orleans Saints

Mingo is a talented pass rusher who shreds through an offensive line. Similar to Jarvis Jones, he has great burst off of the line and has Pro Bowl potential. He might not be as tall as Dion Jordan, but he has a similar ability when rushing the quarterback.

16.Kenny Vaccaro, Safety, Texas – St. Louis Rams

Vaccaro is easily the best safety in the draft, and seeing as secondary is one of the weakest points on the Rams team, he is a perfect fit. He is great at making plays on the ball, and is a force when in zone coverage. He is sure to help out this promising Rams defense.

Patterson is a great route runner and arguably one of the best receivers in the draft. He rose quickly on teams draft boards because of his versatility. Patterson is a great route runner, he is a deep threat, he’s very fast, and he can make an impact in the return game.

18. Chance Warmack, Offensive Guard, Alabama – Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo has struggled recently and has been blamed for the Cowboys lack of success. But, it’s not entirely his fault. He hasn’t been given the offensive line he needs to help the Cowboys win. Warmack is an elite guard, but based on the lack of need at guard this year, he has fallen to eighteen.

19. Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle, Missouri – New York Giants

Richardson is a talented defensive tackle who has no trouble getting to the quarterback. He knows how to properly get to the quarterback, something the Giants are looking for after having a sub-par year on the defensive line.

20. Alec Ogletree, Inside Linebacker, Georgia – Chicago Bears

Ogletree is a well formed tackler who hits opposing players hard. He and Jarvis Jones made a great duo at Georgia and I’m confident that Ogletree will remain a valuable player when he goes to the NFL. He should be able to help the Bears who lost star linebacker Brian Urlacher this year.

21. Jonathan Cyprien, Safety, FIU – Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati has very few needs, which mainly boil down to safety and wide receiver. Since they have an early second round pick, and this draft is full of skilled receivers, safety is the smart pick, seeing as Cyprien is the best one available.

22. Eddie Lacy, Running Back, Alabama – St. Louis Rams

The Rams recently lost running back Steven Jackson to the Falcons, making that one of their biggest needs. Lacy is a powerful runner who can turn on the jets and speed ahead of defenders when necessary. He should be able to help this Rams offense get off the ground.

23. Kevin Minter, Inside Linebacker, LSU – Minnesota Vikings

Minter is a skilled defender who has the potential to be something special in the NFL. He can tackle well and has the ability to completely change the momentum of a game in his team’s favor. This player is sure to help this growing Vikings defense.

The Colts recently parted ways with defensive end Dwight Freeney, who was an important part of the Colts defense for years. Williams is a strong defensive tackle who has the potential to help the Colts produce a talented young defense.

25. Justin Hunter, Wide Receiver, Tennessee – Minnesota Vikings

Hunter was thought to be one of the best receivers in this class, but after Cordarelle Patterson and Tavon Austin, Hunter fell in draft rankings. He is still a skilled route runner with a high upside who can help the Vikings go back into the playoffs. After the loss of Percy Harvin, receiver is the Vikings primary need.

26. Xavier Rhodes, Cornerback, Florida State – Green Bay Packers

Rhodes is a shut down corner who isn’t afraid to tackle big, strong receivers. A cornerback with good tackling ability is very hard to find, especially one that can not only tackle, but cover at a high level. Rhodes is a steal at this spot.

27. DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson – Houston Texans

Hopkins is a fantastic route runner with the best hands in this year’s draft. Houston may have Andre Johnson, but the rest of their receiving core is weak. Hopkins could help this team make a playoff run.

28. Tyler Eifert, Tight End, Notre Dame – Denver Broncos

Based on a lack of need at tight end this year, Eifert has fallen to twenty-eight, giving Peyton Manning another toy for him to play with. Manning would be in a spot where he would have the best receiving core in the league at his disposal.

29.Desmond Trufant, Cornerback, Washington – New England Patriots

Trufant is great in coverage and is very athletic, which could help the Patriots secondary that has had trouble staying healthy and out of trouble. Trufant could be of use to a team that hopes to make a run for the Super Bowl this year.

30. D.J. Hayden, Cornerback, Houston – Atlanta Falcons

Since the Falcons lost Brent Grimes to the Miami Dolphins in free agency this year, they need another cornerback to help their secondary thrive. They need an element of coverage and one of tackling in the secondary, which Hayden can provide.

31. Matt Elam, Safety, Florida – San Francisco 49ers

Elam is a great tackler and is a force in both man and zone coverage. He is sure to help the 49ers after they lost Dashon Goldson in free agency, making this pick essential to them making a run for the Super Bowl.

32. Datone Jones, Defensive End, UCLA – Baltimore Ravens

After the Ravens won the Super Bowl, it was obvious that it would be tough for them to make it back, seeing as they lost many of their best players such as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. But, although their biggest loss was Lewis, they still need help in rushing the quarterback.